Multisectoral Programme in the Kwilu Province - DRCongo

Expected Impacts

In line with the DRC National REDD+ Investment plan, PIREDD Kwilu contributes to two impacts: 

• Reducing emissions by avoiding deforestation and improving carbon sequestration, with a target of 391,500 tonnes of carbon by the end of year seven; and, 
• Improving the population’s living conditions, aiming to increase median cash income by at least 10 percent for households and farmers involved.

Progress as of 31 December 2023

Land use planning

• 62 Simple Land Use Plans (PSAT in French) approved.
• Approval of 85 "participatory" maps of villages (in which villagers participated in the mapping process).

Agriculture

• 4,224 hectares of agroforestry plantations were established and geo-referenced, of which:
  • 3,047 hectares of community agroforestry were established through planting fast-growing trees with crops.
  • 1,177 hectares were established with concessions.
• 147 villages protect forest patches, with 29,875 hectares of forests set aside for natural regeneration registered in the Simple Land Use Plans (PSAT).

Governance and capacity building

These results are possible, and sustainable, thanks to support for governance and capacity-building, including:

• 263 Local Development Committees (LDCs) established or revitalised. They enable villagers to play a key role in protecting their land and surrounding environment.
• The provincial government's capacity to coordinate and monitor REDD+ policies and measures in Kwilu has been strengthened.
• 160 territorial and provincial agents, including 4 coordinators of the Rural Agricultural Management Councils (CARG in French), trained in monitoring the application of REDD+ policies and measures, with the objective of including them in the National Forest Monitoring System.
• Local staff from the Ministries of the Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development trained in georeferencing and equipment (GPS).

Earlier progress of this programme have also been described in the 2021 semestrial publication of the DRC National REDD+ Fund – read it here (in French).

Areas of intervention 

Programme activities concentrate on the main areas most exposed to deforestation and/or that offer the greatest potential for agroforestry. Thus, Bulungu and Masi-Manimba, home to the highest population density and the source of more than half of exports to Kinshasa, are the priority territories.

Synergy

PIREDD Kwilu works with the National Forest Monitoring System Support Programme to assess the effectiveness of measures to combat the main drivers of deforestation and support the national forest inventory.

This PIREDD contributes to milestones of the 2016 Letter of Intent between the DRC and CAFI, specifically with regard to land use planning, land tenure and governance. Two independent verifications of these milestones were undertaken (please read the report available here).